There is powerful evidence that a toxic factor causes schizophrenia. The Russian researchers Mishchenko and Bonartsev published a brilliant article in 1974. They reported "the damaging membranotropic action of the blood serum of schizophrenia patients in in vitro experiments". The factor attacked the cell membrane. In the assay erythrocytes were used as the test cells. Hemolysis resulted. The lactate metabolism of the assay was abnormal after the toxic factor was added. Leukocytes were also studied. Electron microscopy was used to study the cells.

Another Russian article appeared in 1974. Gulidova et al reported "the metabolism of brain mitochondria disordered by the action of the blood serum from schizophrenia patients". They studied ATP and other indices. Cats were used in the assay. Unfortunately this article was not translated into English thus far.

But what does all of this have to do with alternative medicine? The reason is that amino acids are involved. Amino acids are found in the diet. If amino acids were flooding the cells, this would explain damage to the cell membranes. The cells could be blowing up like balloons and bursting, much like in hemolysis. Such a disturbance in amino acid transport appears to suggest a diet low in protein. Protein supplements should be avoided. Other supplements might be valuable.
Many drugs of abuse have chemical structures similar to DMPEA. Mescaline, Nexus, amphetamine analogs, etc. have similar structures. It may be that the DMPEA is the active ingredient in the toxic serum factor. The DMPEA causes the cells to be flooded with amino acids. The DMPEA may be created in the brain, where it does its damage. Giving DMPEA to people might not have as much effect because the MAO in the liver might destroy it before it gets to the brain. The brain depends heavily upon glucose metabolism, and any interference with this is disastrous.

Only orthomolecular scientists recognize much of this theory. Orthomolecular scientists recognize the importance of nutrition. Conservatives often reject the idea that nutrition influences the brain, but these conservatives are wrong.

THE CARBOHYDRATE THEORY

This is an old theory, dating back to Meduna. Meduna claimed to have found an anti-insulin factor in the blood. Further studies reported such a factor in the urine. It seems that the factor interferes with carbohydrate metabolism. Similar theories were later esposed by Adelle Davis, Carlton Fredericks, Wendel & Beebe (two orthomolecular doctors), and others. Davis thought that schizophrenia was similar to hypoglycemia, and recommended a modified Harris diet. This diet was designed to prevent a rapid rise in blood sugar, which would trigger an insulin response.

Further evidence in favor of defective carbohydrate metabolism in schizophrenia came from the study of known physical diseases with psychiatric symptoms. Adelle Davis mentioned hypoglycemia, but there are many others. In 1965 Fieve et al studied "glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and schizophrenic behavior". It seems that a shortage of this enzyme slows glucose metabolism, which the brain is heavily dependent upon.

But what does all of this have to do with alternative medicine? The answer is that nutrition may provide a cure, or at least an alleviation, for mental disease. Polyphenols are found in fruits and vegetables. There are polyphenol or flavonoid-containing dietary supplements. Nuts and whole grain cereals also contain polyphenols.